Comparing Surgical Techniques for Meniscal Tears: A Systematic Review of Radiographic and Functional Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Meniscal tears are frequent orthopedic injuries.
• Surgical interventions are commonly preferred for managing meniscal tears.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and compare the outcomes of diverse surgical techniques for meniscal tears.
• To evaluate clinical results and adverse events associated with different surgical repair methods.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Scopus.
• Included studies published between 2010 and 2023 focusing on surgical techniques for meniscal repair.
• 17 studies were selected from 7,421 identified articles, with follow-up periods ranging from 6 weeks to 123 months.

Main Results:

• Pull-out repair and refixation techniques showed superior clinical outcomes and reduced arthritic progression compared to partial meniscectomy.
• Mason-Allen and simple stitches demonstrated comparable results.
• Inside-out and all-inside techniques exhibited similar clinical and functional outcomes.
• Adverse effects varied, with some studies reporting joint line tenderness, swelling, and loss of flexion, while others reported none.

Conclusions:

• Different surgical techniques for meniscal tears yield varying outcomes, with some showing clear advantages.
• Pull-out repair and refixation appear more beneficial than partial meniscectomy for clinical results and arthritis.
• Further research with extended follow-up is needed to ascertain the long-term efficacy of these surgical approaches.